Focus Turns To Post-COVID Recovery As Uganda Celebrates World Veterinary Day In Nakasongola

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has encouraged government and the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) to ensure the services of animal health personnel reaches out to the common person at the grass roots.

This, FAO suggests, can be done by strengthening professionalism and improving staff levels across the country, and through programs that create opportunities for the youth, women and unemployed.

“The current estimate of about 3,000 degree and diploma holders in the animal health sector is insufficient to meet demand,” said Dr. Charles Owach, who represented the FAO Country Representative Antonio Querido at the World Veterinary Day celebrations held in Nakasongola on Saturday.

Assistant FAO Representative Dr Owach stressed the importance and role of the World Veterinary Day, in highlighting achievements, identifying priorities, and reaching the grassroots.

FAO’s Dr Owach hailed veterinarians

“World Veterinary Week events are expected to rally the communities, professionals and the general public to understand how to improve production, productivity, welfare and health of the animals, hence indirectly contributing to the health of humans,” Dr Owach said.

He said, the ballooning Ugandan population means there is much more pressure for food, meaning the roles of veterinarians will be crucial. This, he added, will require innovative approaches to ensure sustainable food production and economies.

Theme based on COVID-19 challenge

This year’s theme for World Veterinary Celebrations is “Veterinarian response to COVID 19 crisis”.

The week-long activities that included virtual discussions, training and free animal vaccinations, attracted representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Veterinary Association, Uganda Veterinary Board, the National Agricultural Research Organization and the College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University.

Other than the virtual conferences, Uganda Veterinary Association officials appeared on radio and TV shows in Kampala, Nakasongola and Alebtong in the Lango region, where a memorial was also held for Prof. Johnson Opio Acon.

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